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B. VERMILYEA. ROTARY KNITTING MACHINE.

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E. VERMILYEA. ROTARY KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 15. 1896.

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E VERMILYEA I ROTARY KNITTING MACHINE, No. 573,063. Patented Dec. 15,1896.

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E. VERMIL YEA. ROTARY KNITTING MACHINE.

No. 573,063. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7. .E. VERMILYBA. ROTARY KNITTING MACHINE.No. 573,063. Patented Dec. 15, 1896.

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NlTED STATES PATENT rricn.

EUGENE VERMILYEA, OF VATERFORD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF TVO- THIRDS TOSETH T. HARSHAVV, OF LANSINGBURG, AND CAMPBELL & OLUTE,-OF COIIOES, NEVYORK. .v

ROTARY KNITTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION'forrning part of Letters Patent No. 573,063fdated December1 5, 1896 A pli ti filed June 21,1895. Serial No. 558,601. (No model.)

Be it known that I, EUGENE VERMILYEA, of

the village of Waterford, countyof Saratoga, State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Rotary K nittin g-Mashorterstitchesthan can be prod need by 1atch-.

needles when employed to make similar kinds of goods.

Accompanying this specification to form apart of it there are sevenplates of drawings, containing fifteen figures, illustrating myinvention, with the same designation of parts by letter reference usedin all of them.

Of the illustrations, Figure 1 is a side elcvation of a rotaryknitting-machine containing my invention andimprovements. Fig. 2 is atop view of the machine shown at Fig. 1 with a part of the yoke brokenout. Fig. 3 is a diam etrical section taken through the table or bed,the vertical-needle cylinder, the cam-:

ring which operates the vertical needles, the

pattern-ring, and with the rest of the partsshown in side elevation.Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line a," of Fig. 3.

differing.- in some slight details from thatshown in said figure. underside of the bed, showing the gears which operate the needle-cylinder anddial. Fig. 7

is a perspective of one of the casting-off plates Fi 8 is a perspectiveof the dial-needle presser shown as detached,

and also that part of the yoke with which it connects illustrated asbroken out. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the dial-needle-presser leg,with the horizontal rod to which it attaches adjustably shownincross-section. Fig. 10 is vertical needles to draw downwardly.

Fig. 5 is a, vertical central section on a plane indicated by line 00 ofFig. .1, but through a machine 1 Fig. 6 is a view of the a sideelevation ofa slotted bracket projected from the side of the yoke, intowhich bracket the horizontal rod of the dial'needle presser is made totongue for adjustment at its inner end. Fig. 11 is a sideelevation ofthe bracket projected from the side of the yoke, on which bracket thehorizontal rod of the dial-needle presser is supported. .Fig. 12 is aperspective of the vertical-needle presser shown as detached. Fig. 13 isa perspective of a part of the cam of the cam-ring which operates theFig. 14 shows in a diametrical section a modification of my invention inwhich the dial-wheel and dial needles are stationary, as well as thevertical-needle cylinder and vertical needles, with the can'i-ringoperating the vertical needles revolving, as well as the cam-plate ofthe dial-needles. Fig. 15 is a view of the top of the diaLwheel of themodification, showing the recess for the gears, as well as the gearstherein.

The several parts of the apparatus thus illustrated are designated byletter reference and the function of theparts is described as follows:

The letters S designate the driving-shaft, which is provided with adriving-pulley P and a shipper S The letter G designates a gear-wheel onthe inner end of thedriving-shaft S, and this gear-wheel meshes into ageared rack g on the vertical-needle cylinder 0, by which as saidshaftis rotated the cylinder 0 is caused to turn on the machine-bed B. IThis verticalneedle cylinder 0 is vertically slotted to receive beardedor spring needles N, each of which is provided with anoutwardly-projected nib H and these needles are as arranged adapted tobe moved upwardly and at Fig. 1, and to descend by having their nibs nunderrun the adjustable plate i as shown at Fig.

The letter R designates a pattern-ring which is arranged upon the bed Boutside of the cam-ring R, and this pattern-ring is provided withprojections 19 on its uppersurface for raising'or lowering thedial-needle presser, and upon its side edge this pattern-ring isconstructed with gears g which are adapted to engage with and to meshinto a pinion thrown into and out of connection with driving mechanism.I

The letter D designates a rotating dialwheel which is cut away 011 itsupper surface at (1 and it is therea't radially slotted to receive thebearded or spring dial-needles N each of which is provided with anupwardlyprojecting nib at.

The letter K designates a stationary camplate which is by means of studsI connected to the yoke Y, the latter at .its ends yfiy being connectedto the stationary cam-ring R.

The letters 7c -desfigna'te cams formed on the edge of the cam-plate K,by which as the dial-wheel D revolves and .the cam-surfaces .6" engagewith the ribs of the dial-needles the latter are forced outwardly intheir .slotlted seats to hook onto the yarn, and then when coming incontact with the cam-surfaces the needles are drawn inwardly and whenhooking into the yarn they cooperate with the vertical needles,.as willbe hereina'fterdescri'bed.

"The letter B designates the sinker-bur, by which yarnas coming from thespools is by the sinker-bur carried -under the beards :of the verticalneedles to form stitches when the needles arera'ised and innonnectionwith the dial-needles, as will be hereinafter described.

The letters A vdesignate 1a presser which is employed to force inwardlythe :barbs 0r beards of the vertical needles N preparatory to castingoff the stitches, .and this presser A is shown as attached to the:inachi-nezat Figs. 1, 2, and 5 and as detached therefrom at Fig. 12.

The letters A designate the presser employed to close up or forceinwardly the beards or barbs of the dial-needles preparatory'tocasting-oft the stitches, and-this presser is sleeved at its upperendontoa horizontal rod aiand made adjustable :t'hereat by meanso'fset-screwed uf. At its inner end thisrod'a tonguesinto a bracket-e7,projected from the yoke Y, and it is therein pivoted or hinged at a.

The letter u. designates .a rest for the rod a this 'rest 'bein gprojected from theyoke Y, and on which rest the rod a? is supported.

The letter Z designates a depending leg which at its upper endadjustably connects with the horizontal rod e attheouter end of thelatter beyond the connection made between the presser A and "the rod {4This depending leg Z at its lower end is immediately over theprojections or cams 011 the pattern-ring R v (indicated at 19.) heneither of the projections 19 comes in contact with the lower end of theleg l the latter is raised thereby and the dial-needle presser is raisedfrom off the needles, so that a double or tuck stitch is formed, andthese projections 17 are operated to thus act by the rotation of thepattern-ring R The letter 01 designates .a spring connecting at itsupper end with the arm a and at its lower end with the base B, and thefunction of this spring is to make the descent of the presser Apositive.

The letters E designate a ratchet-wheel which is arranged to turn withthe shaft 6 on which it is mounted, and the letter E designates asprocket-wheel arranged on and secured to said shafte so as to turn withthe :latter.

The letter b -designa-tes apawl-arm which is provided with a pivotedpawl 17*, adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel.

The letter M designates a pattern-chain that is adapted to make asprocket engage- .me-ntwiththe wheel E and be carried .around ithereon.as it is rotated by the ratchet-wheel.

The letters designate tappets or projections arrangednon therexteriorface of thepattern chain.

The letter designates a vertical shaft which journals at a and isadapted to be moved upwardlyrand downwardlyin its journals, and when:moved upwardly to be so acvtuatedagainst the forceof the spring 6encircling said shaft between the bed B and the e of the latterisextended inwardly and has secured thereon a crank-arm'bi 'w-hichisprovided with a eameroller l)" -'on .its inner end.

The letters T designate the -,dow nwardlyextended .studs of thetake-up-mechanism frame, which studs are supported bythe needle-cylinderandrevolve in a circle outsideof the web The letter T designates an armwhich is .projected laterally from one of the studs of thetake-up-mechanism frame, as shown at Fig. 1, and as this frame revolvesand itsarm T andcam b =con1e into engagement with the roller-12011the'crank-amn b of the pawl-shaftit operates said crank-arm to rotatethe pawlshaftand thus actuate the pawl to move the ratchet-wheel onetooth.

The letter I designates another-arm which is projected laterally andoutwardly from'one of the takeeup-f-rame studs T wh-ich may be the same:stud that :is provided with arm T as shown at 1, or another of the saidstuds, as shown in Fig. 5, and as the take-up frame revolves this arm Iat each revolution will engage with one of the spokes m of thespoke-wheel m and so as to move it, the shaft 6 and the pinion p aquarter of a turn. As thus constructed, when one ofthe tappets on thepattern-chain has raised the shaft 6 the spoke-wheel will be in linewith the arm 1 and when the pattern-chain has been stud U, on which thedial-wheel revolves. .This dial-wheel is rfiade with a hub 11*, that isdownwardly projected from its under surface. to ita gear-wheel G whichmeshes into a gear-wheel G arranged on a verticalshaft having itsbearingsin an offset formed on the collar 0 which latter is secured tothe vertical stud U, on which the dial-wheel D and its hub turn. Thisvertical shaft g at its lower end has mounted thereon the gear-wheel Gwhich meshes into another gear-wheel G turning upon the vertical stud U.

The letter O designates a plate which is attached to the under side ofthe gear-wheel G and the letters 0 O designate arms which are laterallyand downwardly extended from said plate.

The letter O designates a nut which is threaded onto the lower end ofthe stud or shaft U, and O a washer thereon.

The letters L L designate arms inwardly extended from the studs of thetake-up frame, and as thus constructed when the take-up frame isrevolving and the arms L .engage with the arm 0 of the plate 0 thelatter is rotated on the stud U and the gear G connected to this plate0, communicates motion to the gear-wheel Gr on the lower end of theshaft 9 thereby causing the gear-wheel G to turn the gear-wheel G andthe dialwheel D, the latter rotating in the same direction with thevertical-needle cylinder 0. The

,object of driving the dial-wheel from the plate 0 through these gears GG G and G instead of directly from plate 0 to the dialwheel, is that thelatter combination and arrangement would be impracticable with theconstruction shown. The problem is to drive the dial-wheel from thecylinder,while leaving the casting-oif plates J stationary between themand not impeding the fabric. The only feasible way of effecting this isby gearing around the said casting-off plates and supporting the latterfrom a fixed central shaft on which the gears G G are free to turn, thefabric passing down, as shown, between the said casting-off plates andthe cylinder. The

This hubhas arranged on and secured gears G G G2 afford asatisfactorymeans of transferring motion around the said casting-off plates withouttouching them, and the support of said casting-off platesby the fixedcentral shaft avoids all interference with the fabric, which would be afatal objection to any attempt to support said plates from the outsideof the machine.

The letters J J designate the casting-off plates, each of which at itslower end is connected to the plate 0 and is therefrom extended upwardly011 an incline outwardly to pass up between the dial-wheel and thevertical-needle cylinder, said plate 0 being integral with projectionsfrom the stationary collar 0 Each of these plates J is provided upon itsupper edge with a casting-off lip oredge Z and its operation in castingoff the stitches will be described more fully in connection with theoperation of the needles, the bursinker, and the pressers hereinafter.

Q In the modification-shownat 14 and .15 the needle cylinder C andthe'dia-lew'heel Dfalld its needles do not revolve, but the cam-ring Rand the cam-plate K and the casting-off plates revolve.

In the modification shown at Figs. 14 and 15 the gear-wheel G meshesinto a rack 9 formed on the cam-ring R, instead of on thevertical-needle cylinder, as in the other drawings, and the yoke Yconnects with the revolving cam-ring R to turn with the latter.

In the modification the'center stud or shaft U connects with the yoke Yto turn with it, and the dial-wheel D is made with a recess V, throughwhich the stud U passes and where within said recess the stud U hasmounted thereon the gear-wheel W which meshes into a gear-wheel W alsoarranged within said recess, said wheel V having a shaft 10 which isprojected downwardly through the dial-wheel D and a vertical bearing toon the under side of the latter,

and on the lower end of this shaft 10 there is a gear-wheel W, arrangedto mesh into a gear mounted on a sleeve 10 arranged 'to turn 011 thedownwardly-extended hub 7t of the dial-wheel.

The letters a a designate arms laterally extended from the sleeve 20,011 whichare placed the casting-off plates J -.J each having the sameconstruction as in the other figures and as revolving to have relativelythe same position to the needles, the pressers, and their sinker-burduring the production of and casting off of the stitches as in the otherillustrations.

The letter 92 designates a nut which is threaded onto the upper end ofthe vertical shaft orstud U and O a collar formed integrally with thelower end of said shaft or stud, and the function of this nut and collaris to keep the shaft U in position to be turned by and with the yoke YThe letter F designates a collar which encircles the lower end of thehub I2 below the sleeve 10 The hub 7r is made witha shoulder, againstwhich the upper end of the said sleeve bears, with the lower end of thelatter resting on the stationary collar F. The arms of the cast-offplates are projected up and outwardly from the sleeve 10 and the latteris rotated by the gears W WW, and IV, as before described.

The letter 2 designates a collar which is secured to the lower end ofthe hub 7L5 and is provided with arms 2 .2 which engage with arms L L,projected inwardly from the legs Z3 of the machine, by which engagementthe hub 7L5 of the dial wheel is prevented from turning.

The operation of the mechanism thus illustrated and described is asfollows: When the vertical needles are raised by their cams, as beforedescribed, yarn coming from a spool is by the sinker-bur B carried undertheir beards. The dial-needles are at the same time forced outwardly bytheir cam to pass between the vertical needles, so that the beards ofthe dial-needles are carried outwardly beyond the vertical needles, thelatter having the yarn already under their beards, and when the verticalneedles commence to draw downwardly by the action of their cam they drawthe yarn over the dial-needle just back of the beards of the latter, andthe vertical needles as drawing downwardly pass under the presser A,which presses inwardly their beards, so that the stitch passes over thelatter as the vertical needles descend, carrying the yarn for asucceeding stitch through the loop on the vertical needles and castingoff the old stitch over the verge of the cylinder, while thedial-needles having, as before described, had the yarn passed over themby the drawing down of the vertical needles are actuated by their cam todraw inwardly, carrying their beards over the yarn resting on theirshanks, in which condition they pass under the presser A which closestheir beards, so that the stitch thereon is carried outwardly over theirbeards as the dial-needles draw inwardly, with the stitch resting on theneedles back of the outer end and in front of the beard, and while inthis position as it comes in contact with the casting-off plate J itslip Z moves the stitch laterally from off the needles, and thisoperation is the same in the modification as in the other illustrations.By retaining the stitches on the dial-needles a short distance fromtheir ends before being cast off the stitches are made shorter as tovertical length and have more length of loop laterally, by which the webhas but little elasticity longitudinally, but is Very elastic laterally,which cannot be produced when latch-needles are used to produce likekinds of web.

I am aware that spring or bearded needles have been used in connectedvertical and dial arrangement, and I make no broad claim thereto, myimprovement consisting in the manner that I arrange them to be operatedconnectedly to shorten up the stitches vertically and elongate themlaterally by the employment of a cast-oif mechanism operating upon theunder side of the needles.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary knitting-machine the combination of a cylinder providedwith Verticallyarranged needles; cams whereby said cylinder-needles arecaused to rise and descend; means by which the yarn is carried beneaththe beards of said vertical needles when the latter are raised a presserwhereby the beards of said cylinder-needles will be closed whendescending to cast off their stitches; a dial- Wheel havingradially-arranged needles and provided with cams whereby saiddial-needles are forced outwardly and drawn inwardly; a presser wherebythe beards of the dial-needles are closed when being drawn inwardly; anda casting-off plate adapted to engage with the under side of thedial-needles when the latter are being drawn inwardly and force thestitches therefrom, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with the vertical springneedles N, constructed to beoperated sub stantially as described; of the sinker-bur B operated todeliver yarn to said vertical spring-needles; the presser A, operated topress in the beards of said vertical springneedles; thehorizontally-arranged and radially-placed spring-needles N operated tobe moved outwardly and inwardly substantially as described; the presserA and the castingoff plates J, J, each made with the edge or lip Zconstructed to engage with the under side of said horizontally-arrangedneedles when the latter are drawn inwardly, substantially in the manneras and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with the dial-wheel D, having the downcast hub H ofthe vertical shaft or stud II, on which said dial-wheel journals; thegear-wheel G mounted to turn on the lower end of said shaft U, andprovided with a plate 0, having downwardly and outwardly extended arms 00 adapted to engage with and be turned by the depending legs T of arevolving take-up mechanism; the shaft 9 having mounted upon its lowerend the gear-wheel G adapted to mesh into the gear-wheel G and on itsupper end the gear-wheel G and the gear-wheel G mounted on thedial-wheel hub, and adapted to mesh into the gear-wheel G substantiallyin the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

t. The combination with the dial-wheel D, having the downcast hub Hcarrying a gearwheel, of the stationary stud or shaft U; the gear-wheelG mounted to turn on the lower end of said shaft or stud; the plate 0having the laterally extendedarms O O and secured to the lower side ofsaid gear-Wheel G gears connecting said gear-wheel Giwith the gear-Wheelon the dial-wheel hub; a revolving take-up mechanism provided withinwardlyprojecting arms L L; a collar 0 secured to said stud or shaft U;and the cast-off plates J, J, upwardly projected from said collarsubstantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination with the cylinder 0, provided with a geared rack gand a drivingwheel G, of the shaft U, the dial-wheel D, having thedowncast hub II, operated to be rotated substantially as described, ofthe col lar O connected to said shaft U, and the cast-off plates J, J,upwardly projected from said collar, constructed and arranged to beoperated substantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of the yoke with the presser A having a sleevedpassage-way in its upper end of the rod o provided with the dependingleg Z at its outer end, and at its inner end pivoted to the yoke; of thepatternring R having the projection 13, on its upper surface; thevertical shaft 6 provided with the pinion P at its upper end, and havingthe encircling spring a the ratchet-wheel E; sprocket-wheel Epattern-chain M, having tappets t the pawl 17*, having the crank-arm I);and cam-roller 11*; a revolving take-up mechanism having the dependinglegs T T provided with the arm T and the arm 1 and the spoke-wheel marranged on the shaft 6 constructed and arranged to operatesubstantially in the manner asand for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with the stationary shaft or stud U of the dial-wheelD, having the hub II, downwardly projected from its under side, andprovided with the gear-wheel G the gear-wheel G arranged to turn on saidshaft U, at its lower end; the plate 0 connected to said gear-wheel Gand provided with arms 0 0 adapted to engage with and be turned by thesides of a revolving take-up mechanism; and the gear-wheels G and Gcommunicating motion from said gearwheel G to said gear-wheel Gsubstantially in the manner as and for the purposes set forth.

Signed at Troy, New York, this 11th day of May, 1895, and in thepresence of the two witnesses whose names are hereto written.

EUGENE VERMILYEA. \Vitnesses:

W. E. HAGAN, CHARLES S. BRINTNALL.

